A two-day training programme in conflict management for 20 chiefs and 24 elders from the Andani and Abudu royal Gates has ended at Yendi in the Northern Region.

It was organised by the United Nations Joint Programme on HumanSecurity in collaboration with the Dagbon Traditional Council. Topics discussed included Human Security concept, conflict andcauses of conflict, types of conflict and understanding conflict,escalation and de-escalation of conflict, conflict prevention - earlywarning signs, and the spectrum of conflict handling mechanisms, amongothers.

The Programme Manager of UN Joint Human Security Programme, MrEdward Adimazoya, stated that since December 2009 the United Nations(UN) system in Ghana and other partners had been implementing thejoint Human Security Programme in selected communities in the threeNorthern Regions.

Mr Adimazoya indicated that the programme which had the title“Enhancing Human Security Through Developing Local Capacity forHolistic Community-based Conflict Prevention in Northern Ghana,” was ajoint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),UNICEF, UNDP, UNIDO UNU and the World Food Programme (WFP) in closecollaboration with the Government of Ghana, civil societyorganizations, academia and other partners.

He said the three-year programme was funded by the Government ofJapan through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UN-TFHS). “The programme targets Bawku, Yendi, Tamale and Wa which havebeen identified as the four conflict-prone areas in the three NorthernRegions,” he said, adding that it sought to empower localinstitutions, communities and individuals to prevent and manageconflicts in Northern Ghana as a means to ensuring sustainable humansecurity in the area.

He said in the Yendi Municipality the priority communitiesincluded Nayilifong, Guntingle, Balogu, and Kumfong. The UN Joint Human Security Programme Field Specialist for Yendi,Mr Salifu Dammah indicated that the conflict management workshop forthe chiefs of the two Gates was meant to equip them and their elderswith knowledge and skills for holistic community based conflictprevention and enable them to anticipate and respond constructivelyand sensitively to issues of conflict in their areas.

Mr Salifu stated that relationship building was no marginalactivity but that it was the key in creating sustainablepeace-building process. He said the theme for the training, “The morewe sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war,” was very appropriate. The Yendi Divisional Police Commander, Chief superintendentCharles Damanban, expressed appreciation to the chiefs from the tworoyal Gates for attending the training programme in the search forpeace in Dagbon.

He thanked the UN Joint Programme on Human Security and theDagbon Traditional Council for organizing the programme. In their recommendations, the chiefs appealed to the UN JointProgramme on Human Security to empower the chiefs of the two Gates toenable them to contribute effectively to the peace process.

They stressed the need for the two royal Gates in the DagbonCrisis to tone down the blame game and to seek peace. They acknowledged that in the interest of building peace andtrust, chiefs of the two Gates should exchange visits regularly toimprove upon communications between the two sides.

The chiefs also called on the UN Joint Programme to create jobsfor the youth in the conflict-prone areas to enable them to channeltheir energies into productive ventures.

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